Shopping the eco-friendly car options.

By Jay Whitehead

Recently I’ve been shopping for cars. I’ve looked at gas-electric hybrids, natural gas-powered models, and even looked into importing one of the popular bio-diesel or ethanol-powered models from Europe. And yes, I’ve even looked at regular gas-powered cars.

I also know that I have a big family, with kids who have lots of friends and soccer games and parties and far-off events to attend. For the moment, though, just like nearly 99% of Americans, I only own gasoline-fueled autos. I feel guilty about it. I assuage my guilt by taking the train whenever possible, and by planning to put solar panels on my roof this summer.

I spoke with one of the natural gas-powered car marketers. For the sake of investigation, I set aside the fact that the car was way too small for my needs. But the killer was the fact that I would have to install a natural gas pumping station in my backyard. That conjured up uncomfortable thoughts of trying to re-sell my house in several years to someone who did not share my affinity for natural gas autos. So I’ve officially written off the possibility of owning one of these.

But I’ve been encouraged lately by the talk of the car battery guys. I got a PR piece the other day from GM announcing its 2009 plans for a long-range plug-in hybrid SUV, the Saturn Vue. And I was pleased to see a piece online this weekend about a Watertown, Mass. company called A123 Systems that is developing a long-range iron phosphate battery with help from $102 million in venture capital supplied by Sequoia Capital, Motorola and GE. That battery will be the Vue’s energy source.

I know that the gas-powered car salespeople with whom I speak are bearish on batteries in cars. They say the batteries cannot be recycled, and will haunt our childrens’ children with toxic waste. Car sales talk is even harder to believe than the banter of politicians.

My gas-powered cars get me around for now. But I’m really looking forward to the day when I can match my big-family transportation needs with a 155-mile-per-gallon battery-powered Saturn Vue. Hopefully it will be soon.